a sort of homecoming

Last minute change of plans: I had registered for a 5K tomorrow but it was cancelled without explanation so I signed up for the Marathon Relay Challenge in Marshfield. It’s a cool idea: 26 runners each do a track mile, in relay format (i.e., carrying a baton), and each team is required to have a minimum of ten women. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity, after a twelve year hiatus, to run the mile again.

The mile/1500 is my favorite running event; nothing else comes close. I love the 800 but at high speeds (by which I mean less than two minutes) you can finish it without ever having to rely solely on aerobic energy production. Glycolysis helps the entire way. The mile is simply a killer. I think there’s a perception among many runners that the longer event is, the harder it becomes, but that is complete nonsense. The 10K isn’t harder than the 5K -- it’s just slower. And El Guerrouj’s career is every bit as impressive as Bekele’s or Gebrselassie’s.

So this should be interesting. Based on my recent training and racing I’m hoping for a 4:40.